Lied van die Lappop (Song of the Rag Doll) is a South African television thriller mini-series created, executive produced and directed by Dirk de Villiers of C Films about two detectives investigating a spate of gruesome murders in which the victims - all beautiful models - are found with their kidneys removed and their bodies embalmed.
The killer leaves a verse of a poem – Lied van die Lappop, written by Ingrid Jonker - on the scene.
The mini-series originally aired on SABC2 from 1-22 May, 2001. It later aired on SABC3. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Lied van die Lappop premiered on SABC3 on Thursday 14 April 2011, at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are four hour-long episodes in the series.
Synopsis
This mini-series of four episodes is full of action, adventure, nail-biting scenes, murder, glamour, beautiful fashion models, two detectives hot on the trail of the murderer and a story-line that is going to keep viewers glued to the television up till the last episode.
Well-known and beautiful models are being murdered and the killer removes their kidneys and embalms the bodies. He leaves a verse of a poem – Lied van die Lappop, written by Ingrid Jonker - on the scene.
Heading the investigation is a young detective Zak Boltman (Gys de Villiers). He is compelled by his superiors to be assisted by Spoor van der Velde (Marius Weyers), a detective from the old order who is awaiting trail for the murder of a suspect in detention whilst still on active duty.
There is no love lost between the two.
Trix, a television reporter, also becomes involved in the investigation. A German photographer, who has resorted to porn photography, is a prime suspect.
The series is pacy and the terror lurks non-stop in the background. It is a tense thriller, something of a horror series with a lot of beautiful faces and bodies.
The ensemble cast include Gys de Villiers, Marius Weyers, Andre Jacobs, Terry Norton, Gavin van den Berg, Aletta Bezuidenhout, Cobus Rossouw, Andre Roothman, Shirley Ellis, George Ballot, Jade Allen, Karien Polly, Tessa Jubber, Marko van der Colff and Mariëtte Pretorius.
Hein Eksteen and Gerhard Meyer wrote the screenplay. All scenes were filmed in and around Cape Town.
Seasons
Season 1
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 1 May 2001 | Finale: 22 May 2001 | Tuesdays, 19h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 14 Apr 2011 | Finale: 5 May 2011 | Thursdays, 20h30